EP0565469A1 - System for the contactless exchange of data between a terminal and a modular portable unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for exchange of data without physical contact between a portable, generally mobile unit, and a terminal or a set of terminals, which is or are generally fixed. The objective is to produce a modular unit (15) comprising a portable object (30) (especially a memory card) which can be inserted either into a transmission/reception device (20), or into a transfer device of another type (a ISO reader (10) for example), doing without interface management and minimising the energy consumption of the unit. According to the invention, the transmission/reception device (20) is not provided with a microprocessor and the portable object (30) houses the management means (32) especially for the transmission/reception protocol for the said portable assembly (15) and for the ISO 7816-3 protocol. <IMAGE>

Description

The field of the invention is that of data exchange without physical contact, that is to say for example by radio or infrared.

More specifically, the invention relates to a data exchange system without physical contact between a portable assembly, generally mobile, and a terminal or a set of terminals, generally fixed.

The invention has numerous applications such as, for example, "hands-free" physical access control which can be applied to the identification of persons wishing to enter a building. In this case, the user is provided with a portable assembly containing identification data. In the entrance of the building is a transmitting / receiving terminal. When the user wishes to enter the building and approaches this terminal, the user's portable unit switches from a standby state to an active state, so that a dialogue, without any physical contact, s between the terminal and the portable assembly. During this dialog, the terminal recognizes the type of portable assembly, receives the identification data contained in this portable assembly and authorizes access to the building if these identification data meet the required criteria (for example, if the user is part of a predefined list of people).

The invention can also be applied to tolls on the fly (remote payment), and in particular to electronic toll collection in a transport system in a metropolitan area. In this case, toll kiosks are located at the various access points of the transport network. The user wishing to access these public transport passes near a toll station which activates its portable set. A dialogue, without any physical contact, is established between the terminal and the portable assembly. After verifying the validity of the information as well as the transport rights contained in the portable set, the terminal records the payment of the transport right and also records this transaction (recording debit) in the memory of the portable set. Thus, the user easily accesses transport and when he has exhausted his access rights stored on his portable set, he can recharge on this transport rights corresponding to tickets or subscriptions.

Many other applications will be readily envisaged by those skilled in the art.

A portable assembly is known which communicates without physical contact as described in patent document FR 88 16672 filed on December 16, 1988.

The portable assembly here consists of a monobloc portable object. This portable assembly can for example be a memory card, and in particular comprises a microcontroller, an electronic transmission by induction and a battery. This portable unit is designed to operate according to a configuration of contactless communication with remote terminals allowing, for example, the implementation of remote payment operations (electronic toll collection).

This type of portable assembly, consisting of a card that can exchange data without physical contact with a terminal, has the major drawback of being dedicated to a predetermined type of application.

In other words, it cannot meet a demand and a need for "transversality", which means that it can only be used for one type of application and, for example, cannot be used also and in parallel as a standard memory card with mechanical coupling means (bank card for example).

One could imagine providing such a portable assembly with physical coupling means in order to authorize, in addition to the configuration of contactless communication, another configuration of communication with physical coupling to a terminal allowing in particular the loading and recharging of rights or units corresponding to tickets or subscriptions.

However, such an advanced, "dual-configuration" version of a portable assembly can only have limited functionality, except to considerably complicate the electronics integrated into the assembly, at the cost of increased energy consumption and therefore d '' reduced autonomy.

In addition, this "bi-configuration" solution requires the design and marketing of specific portable modules that are not compatible with portable objects already existing on the market, such as conventional memory cards.

In order to overcome these drawbacks, modular portable assemblies such as those described in patent document FR 88 13439 filed on October 12, 1988 have been developed.

• - d'une part, une carte à mémoire électronique standard, et
• - d'autre part, un étui susceptible de recevoir la carte en contact électrique opératoire. Cet étui comporte des moyens d'émission propres à coopérer avec des moyens de réception homologues du terminal, des moyens d'alimentation, et des moyens de traitement propres à assurer l'échange de données au moins de la carte vers le terminal.

This patent document describes a portable assembly separated into two distinct elements, namely:

• - on the one hand, a standard electronic memory card, and
• - on the other hand, a case capable of receiving the card in operational electrical contact. This case comprises transmission means suitable for cooperating with reception means homologous to the terminal, supply means, and processing means suitable for ensuring the exchange of data at least from the card to the terminal.

In this way, the portable assembly consisting of the card used in combination with the case makes it possible to exchange data without physical contact with a terminal. Such a portable assembly has many applications: "hands-free" identification for physical access control, the passage to theft of toll booths, ...

Furthermore, without the case, the card is capable of all normal functions, for example banking, accessible to standard memory cards.

In the known embodiments of this system, the memory card used is a "conventional" memory card. This means that when the card is in operational electrical contact with the case, the dialogue between the card and the case must be established according to a predetermined dialogue protocol (in this case the ISO 7816 protocol). This protocol requires interface management which itself requires the presence of a microprocessor in the case. After initialization of the exchange, by sending a request by the case, a two-way dialogue can then be established with the card, by the entry / exit (1/0) of the latter while respecting the ISO 7816 protocol.

Thanks to this modular system, the range of applications offered to the portable set is high.

However, one can encounter in this type of device a problem of autonomy and consumption, for example because it is necessary to supply both the case and the memory card, and in particular the microprocessor in each of these two coupling elements.

In addition, the need to provide that the two elements of the portable assembly (case + memory card) are "intelligent", in particular for the implementation of the protocol for exchanging data between them, implies a complexity and a significant manufacturing cost.

The invention particularly aims to overcome these drawbacks of the state of the art.

More specifically, an objective of the invention is to provide a system for exchanging data without physical contact between a terminal and a portable assembly, the portable assembly consisting of two separate elements which can be coupled together: a transmission device / reception and a portable object (preferably a memory card), this system making the economy of an interface management between the transmission / reception device and the portable object which is coupled to it.

Another objective of the invention is to provide such a system which minimizes the energy consumption of the portable assembly, and therefore increases its autonomy.

A complementary objective of the invention is to provide such a system which is simple to produce and inexpensive.

The invention also aims to allow the components of the assembly to be used separately for other functions, in particular by coupling the memory card to a separate transmission / reception device, for example transmitting according to another mode of remote transmission (infrared, wireless, etc ...).

• ledit ensemble portatif et ledit terminal comprenant chacun des moyens d'émission/réception pilotés par des moyens de mise en oeuvre dudit protocole, ledit ensemble portatif étant constitué :
  • - d'une part d'un dispositif d'émission/réception comprenant lesdits moyens d'émission/récep- tion de l'ensemble portatif et des moyens d'accouplement avec un objet portatif ;
  • - d'autre part d'un objet portatif comprenant des moyens d'accouplement permettant d'assurer un transfert de données bidirectionnel avec au moins deux types de dispositifs de transfert et notamment avec ledit dispositif d'émission/ré- ception, et des moyens de traitement de données programmables, réalisés sous forme de micro-structures logiques,
• ledit dispositif d'émission/réception et ledit objet portatif pouvant être soit séparés, soit accouplés l'un à l'autre à l'aide desdits moyens d'accouplement,
• les moyens de traitement de données programmables de l'objet portatif comprenant:
  • - des moyens de traitement des données utiles échangées entre l'ensemble portatif et le terminal ;
  • - lesdits moyens de gestion du protocole d'émis- sion/réception dudit ensemble portatif ;
  • - des moyens de génération de commande d'émission/réception à destination des moyens d'émission/réception contenus dans le dispositif d'émission/réception, lesdits moyens de génération de commande étant pilotés par lesdits moyens de gestion de protocole;

et ledit objet portatif comprenant des moyens de reconnaissance de la nature du type de dispositif de transfert auquel il est accouplé à travers lesdits moyens d'accouplement.These objectives, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved according to the invention using a data exchange system between on the one hand at least one portable assembly and on the other hand a terminal. , in which said data exchange takes place without physical contact between the portable assembly and the terminal, using a predetermined data exchange protocol,

• said portable assembly and said terminal each comprising transmission / reception means controlled by means of implementing said protocol, said portable assembly consisting of:
  • on the one hand, a transmission / reception device comprising said transmission / reception means of the portable assembly and means of coupling with a portable object;
  • on the other hand, a portable object comprising coupling means making it possible to ensure a bidirectional data transfer with at least two types of transfer devices and in particular with said transmission / reception device, and means programmable data processing, carried out in the form of logical micro-structures,
• said transmitting / receiving device and said portable object being able to be either separated or coupled to one another using said coupling means,
• the means for processing programmable data of the portable object comprising:
  • means for processing the useful data exchanged between the portable assembly and the terminal;
  • - said means for managing the transmission / reception protocol of said portable assembly;
  • - transmission / reception command generation means intended for the transmission / reception means contained in the transmission / reception device, said command generation means being controlled by said protocol management means;

and said portable object comprising means for recognizing the nature of the type of transfer device to which it is coupled through said coupling means.

The present invention is based on the idea that a solution to the problem posed above can be found, if one accepts to go against the idea that it is necessary to use in the portable assembly a card with standard electronic memory programmed in a conventional manner.

In this case, since the means for managing the transmission / reception protocol of the portable assembly are located in the portable object, that is to say in the memory card, it is entirely possible to do without microprocessor in the transmission / reception device. In other words, within the meaning of the data exchange protocol, the transmission / reception device has no intelligence.

In comparison with the state of the art, the ges tion of the protocol was therefore deported to the memory card, by a simple reprogramming of its processing means as will be seen below.

On the other hand, the means for supplying the portable assembly are advantageously centralized in the transmission / reception device. The memory card is therefore supplied via its coupling means to the transmission / reception device. Advantageously, this supply is effected selectively only when the card is "awakened", and therefore only during data exchanges, which reduces consumption and therefore increases the autonomy of the portable assembly.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the transmission / reception device comprises means for connection and initialization of the portable object under the control of alarm means generating alarm information.

Advantageously, said wake-up means are constituted either by a manual switch actuatable by the user and / or by means of monitoring and detecting the presence of the portable assembly in a work area of a terminal.

The latter case applies in particular to the modes of use of the type using a set of terminals each having a limited predetermined geographic working area, the portable assembly being able to be located in or outside the working area of each of said terminals. .

Furthermore, the occasions when the user will have to use the manual switch, where it exists, to save the battery of the portable assembly should be limited.

In the case of electronic toll collection, the actuation of the manual switch thus has for example the sole function of confirming the agreement of the user for the debit of his memory card.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the device comprises means for detecting the correct coupling of said portable object, controlling means for inhibiting said wake-up information, so that said wake-up information is not generated when said portable object is not correctly coupled to said transmitting / receiving device.

The wake-up information is thus inhibited when no memory card is coupled to the transmission / reception device, or even when the electrical connection between these two elements is imperfect.

Advantageously, said wake-up information is generated when the portable assembly enters said work area. In this way, the memory card is only powered once, when it enters the work area. When the data exchange with the terminal is finished, the card can no longer be supplied, unless the user leaves the zone and re-enters it.

• - l'objet portatif envoie au dispositif d'émis- sion/réception des commandes, c'est-à-dire des instructions destinées entre autres à placer le dispositif d'émission/réception en configuration d'émission ou en configuration de réception respectivement. L'objet portatif peut également envoyer des commandes correspondant à des fonctionnalités annexes du dispositif d'émission/réception, notamment des fonctionnalités d'affichage ou de tests d'état (par exemple état de la pile, présence dans une zone géographique de travail d'un terminal, données composées par l'utilisateur sur un interrupteur ou sur un clavier, ... ) ;
• - par ailleurs, l'objet portatif et le terminal s'échangent des données utiles, qui transitent à travers le dispositif d'émission/réception.

It will have been noted that the portable object and the transmission / reception device exchange two types of data:

• - the portable object sends commands to the transmission / reception device, that is to say instructions intended inter alia to place the transmission / reception device in the transmission configuration or in the reception configuration respectively . The portable object can also send commands corresponding to additional functionalities of the transmission / reception device, in particular display functionalities or status tests (for example battery status, presence in a geographic work area of 'a terminal, data composed by the user on a switch or on a keyboard, ...);
• - in addition, the portable object and the terminal exchange useful data, which pass through the transmission / reception device.

For processing the commands received from the portable object, the transmission / reception device advantageously comprises simple means for decoding these commands, consisting of simple logic circuits.

These commands can be transmitted to the transmission / reception device either through a wire separate from the coupling means (for example a RUF contact (Reserve Future Use)), or through the same wire used for the transmission of useful data.

In the latter case, it is necessary to provide means for recognizing the nature of the information that the transmission / reception device receives from the portable object, for example by preceding the commands with a specific header, as will be described below about a particular embodiment of the invention.

• - des premiers moyens d'échange de données selon un premier protocole, pour échanger des données avec un dispositif de transfert d'un premier type ;
• - des seconds moyens d'échange de données selon un second protocole, pour échanger des données à travers ledit dispositif d'émission/ré- ception qui constitue un dispositif de transfert d'un second type, avec ledit terminal ;
• - des moyens de sélection desdits premiers ou desdits seconds moyens d'échange de données, en fonction d'une information de type de dispositif de transfert fournie par lesdits moyens de reconnaissance.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said means for processing programmable data of the portable object comprise:

• - first data exchange means according to a first protocol, for exchanging data with a transfer device of a first type;
• second means for exchanging data according to a second protocol, for exchanging data through said transmission / reception device which constitutes a transfer device of a second type, with said terminal;
• means for selecting said first or said second data exchange means, as a function of information of the type of transfer device supplied by said recognition means.

• - soit dudit premier type, si ledit état de test est un état haut ;
• - soit dudit second type, si ledit état de test est un état bas.

Advantageously, said first protocol is the ISO 7816-3 protocol prescribing that the signal present on said data exchange wire of the coupling means must be at a high state after initialization of said portable object, in that said device transmission / reception, when coupled with said portable object, requires that the signal present on the data exchange wire of the coupling means must be at a low state for a first duration after initialization of said portable object , said recognition means determining a test state equal to the state of the signal present on said data exchange wire of the coupling means after a second duration, said second duration being less than said first duration, said type of information transfer device provided by said recognition means indicating that the transfer device to which the portable object is coupled is:

• - or of said first type, if said test state is a high state;
• - or of said second type, if said test state is a low state.

Thus, the memory card will activate the ISO 7816 protocol when it is coupled to a conventional terminal, for example for its recharging or its programming, and will instead be placed in a specific dialogue configuration when it is coupled to a transmission / reception of the type of the invention.

• - soit conformément à la norme ISO 7816-3, selon laquelle la carte à mémoire est un périphérique esclave du dispositif de transfert qui est ici un lecteur classique ;
• - soit selon les procédures adaptées à une liaison radio sans contact, où la carte à mémoire est maître du dispositif de transfert qui est ici le dispositif d'émission/réception dans lequel elle est insérée.

In other words, the memory card works:

• - either in accordance with ISO standard 7816-3, according to which the memory card is a slave device of the transfer device which is here a conventional reader;
• - or according to the procedures adapted to a contactless radio link, where the memory card is the master of the transfer device which is here the transmission / reception device in which it is inserted.

• - la figure 1 est un schéma simplifié représentant les modules fonctionnels principaux d'un système suivant l'invention composé d'un terminai, et d'un ensemble portatif à objet portatif et dispositif d'émission/réception accouplables ;
• - la figure 2 est un schéma logique d'un mode de réalisation préférentiel des moyens de décodage situés dans le dispositif d'émission/récep- tion, pour le décodage des commandes d'émis- sion/réception reçues de l'objet portatif, dans le cas où les commandes et les données sont transmises sur un fil unique ;
• - les figures 3A, 3B sont des schémas logiques de décodage des données et des commandes reçues par le dispositif d'émission/réception en provenance de l'objet portatif, dans le cas où les commandes d'émission/réception et les données utiles sont transmises sur deux fils différents ;
• - la figure 4 présent un exemple de fonctionnement de l'objet portatif du système selon l'invention avec un premier type de dispositif de transfert, à savoir un lecteur ISO 7813-3 ;
• - la figure 5 présente un exemple de fonctionnement de l'objet portatif du système selon l'invention avec un second type de dispositif de transfert, à savoir un dispositif d'émission/ré- ception du système selon l'invention ;
• - la figure 6 présente un schéma bloc permettant d'expliquer la détermination du choix d'un des deux modes de fonctionnement d'un objet portatif selon l'invention ;
• - la figure 7 présente des chronogrammes permettant d'expliquer le fonctionnement des moyens de reconnaissance du type de dispositif de transfert auquel est accouplée la carte à mémoire.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention given by way of nonlimiting illustration and of the appended drawings in which:

• - Figure 1 is a simplified diagram showing the main functional modules of a system according to the invention composed of a terminal, and a portable assembly with portable object and transmissible transmission / reception device;
• FIG. 2 is a logic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the decoding means located in the transmission / reception device, for the decoding of the transmission / reception commands received from the portable object, in the case where orders and data are transmitted on a single wire;
• FIGS. 3A, 3B are logic diagrams for decoding the data and commands received by the transmission / reception device coming from the portable object, in the case where the transmission / reception commands and the useful data are transmitted on two different wires;
• - Figure 4 shows an example of operation of the portable object of the system according to the invention with a first type of transfer device, namely an ISO 7813-3 reader;
• FIG. 5 shows an example of operation of the portable object of the system according to the invention with a second type of transfer device, namely a device for transmitting / receiving the system according to the invention;
• - Figure 6 shows a block diagram for explaining the determination of the choice of one of the two operating modes of a portable object according to the invention;
• - Figure 7 shows timing diagrams to explain the operation of the means for recognizing the type of transfer device to which the memory card is coupled.

In the following description, reference will be made to the context of electronic toll collection in public transport, but it is clear that the invention is not limited to this particular application. The invention also applies to "hands-free" physical access control, or any other application requiring an exchange of data without physical contact.

FIG. 1 presents a simplified diagram of such a data exchange system which comprises on the one hand a terminal 10 and on the other hand a portable assembly 15. The portable assembly 15 consists of a transmission device / reception 20 and a portable object 30.

The terminal 10 comprises transmission / reception means 12, these transmission / reception means 12 being controlled by means 11 for implementing the data exchange protocol between the terminal 10 and the portable assembly 15 .

• - des moyens d'émission/réception 21 compatible avec ceux 12 situés sur le terminal 10. Dans le cas d'une transmission hertzienne, ces moyens d'émission/réception sont essentiellement constitués par des moyens de modu- lation/démodulation de la fréquence porteuse. On peut notamment utiliser des moyens d'émission/réception du même type que ceux du brevet FR 88 16672 ;
• - des moyens 22 de décodage de commandes émises par l'objet portatif 30;
• - des moyens 23 d'accouplement avec l'objet portatif 30 ;
• - des moyens 24 de connexion, déconnexion et d'initialisation de l'objet portatif 30 ;
• - des moyens 25 d'alimentation de l'ensemble portatif constitués soit par une pile, soit par des moyens de téléalimentation, l'ensemble portatif recevant alors son énergie d'alimentation par le signal transmis par le terminal.
• - des moyens 26 de génération d'un signal d'horloge ;
• - des moyens 27 de réveil (veille et détection de la présence dans une zone de travail) ;
• - des moyens 28 de détection du bon accouplement de l'objet portatif;
• - des moyens 29 de génération d'un signal de remise à zéro de l'objet portatif 30.

The transmission / reception device 20 comprises:

• transmission / reception means 21 compatible with those 12 located on the terminal 10. In the case of a radio transmission, these transmission / reception means are essentially constituted by means of modulation / demodulation of the frequency carrier. One can in particular use transmission / reception means of the same type as those of patent FR 88 16672;
• - Means 22 for decoding commands issued by the portable object 30;
• - Means 23 for coupling with the portable object 30;
• - Means 24 for connection, disconnection and initialization of the portable object 30;
• means 25 for supplying the portable assembly constituted either by a battery or by remote supply means, the portable assembly then receiving its supply energy by the signal transmitted by the terminal.
• - Means 26 for generating a clock signal;
• - Waking means 27 (standby and detection of the presence in a work area);
• - Means 28 for detecting the proper coupling of the portable object;
• means 29 for generating a reset signal for the portable object 30.

The portable object 30 comprises programmable data processing means 31, a central unit 34, means 33 for coupling to the transmission / reception device, a program memory 36 and a storage memory 310.

• - des moyens 38 de traitement de données utiles échangées entre l'ensemble portatif 15 et le terminal 10 ;
• - des moyens 32 de gestion de protocoles comprenant notamment d'une part le protocole d'émission/réception de l'ensemble portatif, et d'autre part le protocole 150 permettant à la carte à mémoire de communiquer avec un dispositif de transfert classique (lecteur standard) ;
• - des moyens 37 de génération de commande d'émission/réception à destination du dispositif d'émission/réception 20,les moyens 37 de génération de commande étant pilotés par les moyens 32 de gestion de protocole ;
• - des moyens 39 de traitement des données annexes provenant directement du dispositif d'émission/réception 20 ;
• - des moyens 35 de reconnaissance de la nature du dispositif;
• - des moyens 81 de sélection d'un des protocoles.

The program memory 36 includes:

• means 38 for processing useful data exchanged between the portable assembly 15 and the terminal 10;
• means 32 of protocol management comprising in particular on the one hand the transmission / reception protocol of the portable assembly, and on the other hand the protocol 150 allowing the memory card to communicate with a conventional transfer device ( standard reader);
• means 37 for generating transmission / reception commands intended for the transmission / reception device 20, the means 37 for generating commands being controlled by means 32 of protocol management;
• means 39 for processing additional data coming directly from the transmission / reception device 20;
• means 35 for recognizing the nature of the device;
• - Means 81 for selecting one of the protocols.

• - un contact d'entrée/sortie (I/O) ;
• - un contact d'alimentation haute (VPP) ;
• - un contact d'alimentation basse (VCC) ;
• - un contact de masse (GND) ;
• - un contact d'horloge (CLK) ;
• - un contact de remise à zéro (RST) ;
• - deux contacts RUF (Réservé Utilisation Future).

The coupling means 23, 33 of the transmission / reception device 20 and of the portable object 30 comprise eight contacts:

• - an input / output contact (I / O);
• - a high power contact (VPP);
• - a low power contact (VCC);
• - a ground contact (GND);
• - a clock contact (CLK);
• - a reset contact (RST);
• - two RUF contacts (Reserved for Future Use).

The high and low power contacts as well as the earth contact are connected to the power supply means 25. The clock contact is connected to the clock generation means 26. The reset contact is connected to the generation of a reset signal.

The portable object 30 controls the transmission / reception device by means of commands. These commands issued by the portable object 30 are decoded by the transmission / reception device 20 and allow it to configure itself either in transmission or in reception. Another command also allows the portable object 30 to turn itself off, by controlling the connection means 24. Finally, various test commands allow the portable object 30 to know whether it is in a geographical working area, or to test the state of the battery 25.

As presented in relation to FIGS. 4 and 5, in the case of the implementation of a system according to the invention in an electronic toll system, for example in a public transport system, the flow of data exchanges is the following. The user has a memory card type card 30 in which he can load transport access right units by coupling his card 30 to an ISO reader (referenced 41 in FIG. 4). When he wishes to access public transport, he inserts his memory card 30 into the transmission / reception device 20, and keeps on him the portable assembly 15 consisting of the card 30 and the transmission / reception device 20 , for example in one of his pockets.

In order to access public transport, the user must pass near a payment terminal 10 having a limited predetermined geographic work area. This terminal 10, by means of its transmission means 12, permanently transmits a signal intended for the portable assemblies 15 of the different users.

If the user having a portable assembly 15 is actually located in this work area, the alarm means 27 located in the transmission / reception device 20 will connect and initialize the portable object 30 by means of the means coupling 23, 33. This connection step corresponds to a power-up which consists in supplying the portable object 30 with the high and low power supplies, the ground signal, the reset signal, and the signal clock.

After being awakened, the portable object 30 must recognize the type of device with which it is coupled. It can be a transmission / reception device 20 according to the invention or any other type of reader, an ISO reader 41 for example. This recognition step is presented in relation to FIGS. 6 and 7.

As presented in the block diagram of FIG. 6, the recognition means 35 (of the nature of the transfer device to which the memory card is coupled) provide information of the type of transfer device to the means 81 for selecting one of the two protocols 82, 83 managed by the management means 32.

• - soit selon le protocole ISO 7816-3, lorsqu'elle est connectée à un lecteur classique ISO et constitue un périphérique esclave de ce lecteur ;
• - soit selon un protocole radio, lorsqu'elle est connectée à un dispositif d'émission/réception selon l'invention et est maître de celui-ci.

In the following description, we consider that the memory card works:

• - either according to the ISO 7816-3 protocol, when it is connected to a conventional ISO reader and constitutes a slave device for this reader;
• - or according to a radio protocol, when it is connected to a transmission / reception device according to the invention and is master of it.

• - d'alimentation basse V_cc ;
• - d'horloge CLK ;
• - de remise à zéro RST ; et
• - d'entrée/sortie :
  • * dans le cas où la carte est accouplée à un lecteur ISO 7816-3;
  • * dans le cas où la carte est accouplée à un dispositif d'émission/réception.

Figure 7 shows timing diagrams of the signals:

• - low V _DC power supply;
• - CLK clock;
• - RST reset; and
• - input / output:
  • * in the case where the card is coupled to an ISO 7816-3 reader;
  • * in the case where the card is coupled to a transmission / reception device.

If the card is coupled to an ISO reader, the 7816-3 protocol specifies that the I / O signal must be equal to the high state after initialization of the card (instant t).

On the contrary, in the case where the card is coupled to a transmission / reception device according to the invention, the I / O signal is in the low state for a duration T1 following the instant t.

The principle implemented in the invention consists in examining the value of the signal present on the input / output contact (I / O), at a time t _d of decision of the operating mode, after a duration T2 following the instant th T2 being less than T1.

If the I / O signal takes the value "1", it is an ISO reader, otherwise, it is a transmission / reception device 20.

If the portable object is effectively coupled to a transmission / reception device 20, the exchange of data with the terminal 10 can start according to a predetermined protocol. Thus, according to a preferential exchange protocol as soon as it is awakened, the memory card 30 must configure the transmission / reception device 20 for reception. For this, the memory card 30 sends to the transmission / reception device a command to configure reception configuration. The transmission / reception device 20 decodes this command then configures its transmission / reception means 21 for reception. This allows it to receive the first data sent by the remote terminal 10. Then, before sending a response to the terminal 10, the memory card 30 must configure the transmission / reception device 20 for transmission, by sending the appropriate command to the transmission / reception device 20. The card to memory 30 then sends the response data according to the data exchange protocol to be implemented, then reconfigures the transmission / reception device 20 for reception, so as to be able to receive the next response request from the terminal 10.

Advantageously, the first data exchanged between the terminal 10 and the card 30 are hardware identification information.

The exchange of data between the terminal 10 and the memory card 30 then continues in the same way according to the number of steps required in the protocol.

When the data exchange is complete, that is to say when the memory card has been debited in this example, the memory card sends a command to the transmission / reception device so as to be disconnected and therefore to save power supply.

In addition, the connection of the memory card 30 to the transmission / reception device is no longer possible, unless the user leaves the work area. In fact it is the entry into the zone which awakens the memory card 30 and not the mere presence in the zone. Thus, we physically ensure that the card can only be charged once.

Depending on whether the memory card 30 transmits data or commands to the transmission / reception device 20, the programmable data processing means, built around a microprocessor, use data or commands stored in a memory 37 of this same microprocessor.

When the user has used all the transport rights stored on his memory card, he can recharge it. The loading or reloading of transport rights corresponding to tickets or subscriptions can be carried out on a standard card reader using an ISO 7816 data exchange protocol. Furthermore, it can be imagined that the same card memory is also used for other applications of the electronic purse type. The memory card recognizes the nature of the device to which it is coupled thanks to the recognition means 35 the operation of which has been explained previously.

The means 28 for detecting the correct coupling of the memory card 30 with the transmission / reception device 20 controls the means 210 for inhibiting the wake-up information, so that the wake-up information is not generated when the memory card 30 is not correctly coupled to the transmission / reception device 20.

FIG. 2 is a logic diagram of a first embodiment of the decoding means located in the transmission / reception device. This first embodiment corresponds to a decoding of the transmission / reception commands received from the portable object, in the case where the commands and the data are transmitted on a single wire. This single wire corresponds to the input / output contacts (1/0) of the transmission / reception device 20 and of the portable object (that is to say of the memory card 30). Through this single wire, the memory card can transmit either commands intended for the transmitting / receiving device, or data intended for the terminal.

So that the transmission / reception device recognizes the commands transmitted by the memory card, the card transmits the data and the commands at two different speeds. The data is exchanged in an asynchronous half-duplex mode and at a first speed. The card transmits its commands to the transmission / reception device in a synchronous mode, which is possible since the card and the transmission / reception device share the same clock signal (CLK), and at a second transmission speed. much faster than the first.

The shift register 45 receives a clock signal (CLK / 16) corresponding to the speed of transmission of the commands.

• - un entête constitué d'une séquence d'éléments binaires présentant au moins deux transitions d'état ;
• - au moins un élément binaire de commande, chaque valeur prise par le ou les éléments binaires de commande correspondant à une commande particulière.

These commands are structured in command words. Each command word includes:

• - a header consisting of a sequence of binary elements having at least two state transitions;
• - at least one control bit, each value taken by the control bit (s) corresponding to a particular command.

In the case of FIG. 2,1 'header consists of three binary elements, (101), the commands proper being coded on two binary elements, which makes it possible to code four different commands.

A command sent by the memory card to the transmission / reception device is transmitted in series by the input / output wire (1/0) to a shift register 45. The decoding procedure is then as follows.

A command decoding module 46 proper recognizes, among the four possible combinations of the first two bits of the shift register 45, the command actually sent by the memory card.

Furthermore, the other three bits of the shift register 45 are continuously scanned by command validation means 48 when the value of these three bits corresponds to the binary sequence 101, that is to say when these three bits correspond to a command word header, the command validation means 48 activate the command storage means 47. Consequently, command storage means 47 deliver an active signal in a low state on one of the four outputs , each output corresponding to one of the four possible commands.

• - les deux commandes de configuration des moyens d'émission/réception du dispositif en émission respectivement en réception (E/ respectivement R/);
• - une commande visant à déconnecter la carte à mémoire du dispositif d'émission/réception (OFF/) ;
• - une commande n'engendrant aucune opération (NOP/).

In our example, the four possible commands are:

• the two commands for configuring the transmission / reception means of the device in transmission respectively in reception (E / respectively R /);
• - a command to disconnect the memory card from the transmission / reception device (OFF /);
• - an order generating no operation (NOP /).

Those skilled in the art can easily go from this example in which each command is coded on two bits, to other examples where the commands are coded on more than two bits and are therefore more numerous.

In particular, we can imagine many commands allowing, for example, to test the state of the battery, the presence in a work area, or to read other registers linked to a keyboard or to a screen. display.

The memory card also transmits data to the terminals via the transmission / reception device. This step of transmitting data must be preceded by a step of sending a command word so as to configure the means of transmission / reception in transmission.

The data is structured into data words, each data word comprising a start bit, data bits, a parity bit and a word end bit.

The speed of transmission of the commands being much higher than that of the data, and the shift of the register 45 being carried out at a speed identical to that of the transmission of the commands, the data words are not confused with the control words. Indeed, the binary sequence corresponding to the header of a control word (in our example 101), can never be in the last three bits of the shift register. Even if the binary sequence of the control header (101) is in the data bit stream, this sequence will not be reproduced identically in the shift register 45. Due to the difference between the speed of data transmission and register 45 shift speed, one data bit will be reproduced multiple times in the register. For example, if there is a relationship between the two speeds, a binary data sequence 101 will be in the form 110011 in the shift register 45.

The transmission / reception device being configured for transmission, the data words pass through the input / output wire (I / O), then through the shift register 45, before arriving at the transmission output (OUTPUT ) 410. This output (OUTPUT) 410 is inactive in the high state. The selection of the output line consists simply in carrying out an "OR" (412) between the command (E /) and the output of the shift register 45. Thus, the output line (OUTPUT) 410 is in the high state , except when the E / command is low. In the latter case, the state of the output line (OUTPUT) 410 corresponds to the binary train leaving the shift register 45. The passage through the shift register 45 is transparent for the data, until reception of a new order.

The memory card issues commands or data, but can also receive data from the terminal.

The memory card can effectively receive data only if it has previously configured the transmission / reception means for reception, by sending the appropriate command to the transmission / reception device.

The transmission / reception means receive the data coming from the terminal (INPUT). Like the output line (OUTPUT) 410, the input line (INPUT) 411 is connected to an input of an "OR" 413, the other input corresponding to the command R /.

When the transmission / reception device is configured for reception (command R / low), the output of "OR" corresponds to the input signal (INPUT) 411.

The input / output wire (1/0) is shared between transmission and reception thanks to a conventional assembly, comprising a three-state output buffer 414. The control of this buffer 414 is connected to the output of the "OR "413 and its entry is still low. Thus, when a data bit of value "0" is received, it controls the buffer 414 so that its output is equal to its input, namely 0 since this input is connected to ground. The I / O wire receives this value "0". On the other hand, when a data bit of value "1" is received, it controls the buffer 414 so that its output is at high impedance. The wire 1/0 then receives the value "1" thanks to the resistance wired with the VCC power supply (in English: "pull-up" resistance).

FIGS. 3A and 3B present logical diagrams of data decoding in the case where the transmit / receive commands and the useful data are transmitted on two different wires.

FIG. 3B corresponds to the command decoding proper. Orders are issued by the memory card on a wire reserved for orders (CMD). This wire corresponds to one of the RUF contacts (Reserved for Future Use). The decoding means are identical to those explained in relation to FIG. 2, that is to say comprise a shift register 65, command validation means 68, command decoding means 66, and means 67 command storage. These command storage means 67 have four outputs corresponding respectively to the four types of command existing in our example (E /, R /, OFF /, NOP /). The shift register is controlled by a clock signal 69. As in the example presented in connection with FIG. 2, the card transmits these commands to the transmission / reception device synchronously, which is possible since the card with memory and the transmission / reception device shares the same clock (CLK). The communication speed is, for example, fixed at CLK / 16. This speed corresponds to the maximum speed of the memory card.

In particular, the control signals (E / and R /) corresponding to the configuration of the transmission / reception device in transmission, respectively in reception, control logic circuits as shown in FIG. 3A. In this embodiment, the data to be transmitted to the terminal is conveyed only by the input / output wire (I / O). If the transmission / reception device is effectively configured for transmission, that is to say if the signal E / is active, the data are transmitted on the output (OUTPUT) 54.

Similarly, when the terminal wishes to send data words to the memory card, the transmission / reception device must be configured for reception, that is to say that the signal R / must be active. The data words coming from the terminal (INPUT 55) can then be transmitted to the memory card via the input / output wire (I / O).

Claims (16)

1. Data exchange system between on the one hand at least one portable assembly (15) and on the other hand a terminal (10), in which said data exchange takes place without physical contact between the portable assembly ( 15) and the terminal (10), using a predetermined data exchange protocol, said portable assembly (15) and said terminal (10) each comprising transmission / reception means (12, 21) controlled by means (11, 32) for implementing said protocol,
characterized in that said portable assembly (15) consists of: - on the one hand, a transmission / reception device (20) comprising said means (21) for transmission / reception of the portable assembly (15) and means (23) for coupling with an object portable (30); - on the other hand, a portable object (30) comprising coupling means (33) making it possible to ensure a bidirectional data transfer with at least two types of transfer devices and in particular with said transmission / reception device (20), and means (31) for processing programmable data, produced in the form of logical micro-structures, said transmitting / receiving device (20) and said portable object (30) being able to be either separated or coupled to one another by means of said coupling means (23, 33), in that the means (31) for processing programmable data of the portable object (30) comprise: - Means (38) for processing the useful data exchanged between the portable assembly (15) and the terminal (10); - said means (32) for managing the transmission / reception protocol of said portable assembly (15); - transmission / reception command generation means (37) intended for the transmission / reception means (21) contained in the transmission / reception device (20), said means (37) for generating command being controlled by said protocol management means (32);
and in that said portable object (30) comprises means (35) for recognizing the nature of the type of transfer device (20, 41) to which it is coupled through said coupling means (23,33). 2. System according to claim 1 characterized in that the transmission / reception device (20) comprises means (24) for connection and initialization of the portable object (30) under control of means (27) for awakening generating wake-up information. 3. The system as claimed in claim 2 of the type comprising at least one terminal (10) having a predetermined limited geographical working area, a portable assembly (15) being able to be located in or outside said area, characterized in that said means (27) alarm clock are constituted by means for monitoring and detecting the presence of the portable assembly (15) in said zone. 4. System according to claim 3, characterized in that said wake-up information is generated when the portable assembly (15) enters said zone. 5. System according to claim 2, characterized in that said means (27) for awakening consist of a manual switch operable by the user. 6. System according to any one of claims 2 to 5 characterized in that said transmission / reception device (20) comprises means (26) for detecting the correct coupling of said portable object (30) driving means (210) of inhibiting said wake-up information, so that said wake-up information is not generated when said portable object (30) is not correctly coupled to said transmit / receive device (20). 7. System according to any one of claims 1 and 6 characterized in that said data to be transmitted and said transmission / reception commands are exchanged between the portable object (30) and the transmission / reception device ( 20) through a single wire coupling means (23, 33). 8. System according to any one of claims 1 and 6, characterized in that said useful data are exchanged between the portable object (30) and the transmission / reception device (20) through a wire separate from the wire of transmission of said transmission / reception commands. 9. System according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the supply means (25) of the portable assembly (15) are centralized in said transmission / reception device. (20), the portable object (30) being supplied through said coupling means (23,33). 10. System according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said transmission / reception device (20) comprises means (22) for decoding said transmission / reception commands, said means (22 ) decoding consisting of logic circuits. 11. System according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said means (31) for processing programmable data of the portable object comprise: - first data exchange means according to a first protocol, for exchanging data with a transfer device of a first type; - second data exchange means according to a second protocol, for exchanging data through said transmission / reception device which constitutes a transfer device of a second type, with said terminal; - means for selecting said first or said second data exchange means, as a function of information of the type of transfer device supplied by said recognition means (35). 12. System according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said exchange of data without physical contact is carried out using a transmission mode belonging to the group comprising radio transmission and transmission infrared. 13. System according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that said data are structured in data words, framed by a start bit and an error detection and / or correction bit, and a bit end of word. 14. System according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that said commands are structured in words of commands, each of said command words comprising: - a header consisting of a sequence of binary elements; - At least one control bit, each value taken by the control bit (s) corresponding to one of said commands. 15. System according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said commands belong to the group comprising: - configuration control of the transmission / reception means of the transmission / reception device (20) in transmission; - command to configure the transmission / reception means of the transmission / reception device (20) during reception; - control of the means of connection, disconnection and initialization of the portable object (30); - command to test the presence of the portable assembly (15) in the geographic work area; - test command of the supply means. 16. System according to any one of claims 11 to 15 characterized in that said first protocol is the ISO 7816-3 protocol prescribing that the signal present on said data exchange wire of the coupling means must be in a state high after initialization of said portable object, in that said transmitting / receiving device, when coupled with said portable object, requires that the signal present on the data exchange wire of the coupling means must be at a low state for a first duration after an initialization of said portable object, and in that said recognition means determine a test state equal to the state of the signal present on said data exchange wire of the coupling means after a second duration, said second duration being less than said first duration, said type of transfer device information provided by said recognition means indicating that the transfer device to which the portable object is coupled is: - or of said first type, if said test state is a high state; - or of said second type, if said test state is a low state.

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